Hot air balloon stalls out over St. Croix River

LAKE ST. CROIX BEACH, Minn. -- More than a dozen people on a sightseeing trip in a hot air balloon got a little more excitement than they bargained for Saturday night.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office says the balloon stalled out due to a lack of wind over the St. Croix River near Afton.

The hot air balloon operator called authorities who happened to have a water patrol boat in the area. The balloon operator was able to lower a rope to officers, who "towed" the balloon to shore, where it landed safely.